It was to be a first trip to the Coquet to remember for Red Row angler Michael Orr - for after a 20-minute struggle he was to land his first salmon - a cracking fresh-run fish of 16lb 3oz.

The fish, that had come into the river which had risen two feet due to the midweek rain, took Michael's No 1 Mepp at the gravel beside Swan's Neck. Not only was it his first visit to the river but it was also his first salmon or sea trout.

Salmon and sea trout have been coming into the river since the flood and have been taken at all points upriver to just past Rothbury. Derek Easton, fishing at White Post, had two lovely fish of 10lb 8oz.

There have also been reports of fish being taken on the Northumbrian Anglers' Federation waters on the River Tyne.

Fishing has also been good on the stillwaters with Sean Cronin, of Newton Aycliffe, fishing a Dawson's Olive, landing a fish of 15lb 15oz at Jubilee Lakes, where both lakes are clear and there are no weed problems. Selby Thompson, of Rowlands Gill, had one of 15lb 3oz that fell to a Yellow Dancer.

The policy of putting a few big fish in along with the regular stocking has provided sport for anglers at the Derwent Reservoir, with several reporting over the last few days that they have been snapped by fish reckoned to be around the 10lb mark.

There were no big fish recorded at Beamish this week, despite fish of up to 17lb being stocked. There has been some excellent sport on evening tickets with fish in the 3lb to 6lb range being taken. In the competition held at Higham Lake, Keith Phillery had the biggest fish, a 6lb 7oz rainbow, and Kev Dinning, from Kenton, had the biggest bag - four for 11lb 7oz.

Nigel Higgins, from Ashington, caught a 15lb 3oz rainbow and Ron Hibbet, from Wallsend, safely returned a 10lb 9oz blue.

It's been big bags all round at Sharpley as anglers chase the tagged fish that now carries a bounty of £1,000. Of the tagged-fish hunters, regular Peter Appleby, from Newton Aycliffe, took 68 trout in three sessions - with 31 in one visit.

Langley Dam has been fishing well with a number of larger fish being brought to the net. Blyth Angling Club member D Blake had both the biggest fish of the week - 9lb 12oz - and the best bag - five for 18lb 12oz.

Lancelot Eglin, of North Shields, had the best fish of the week at Stonebridge - weighing in at 15lb 8oz.

At Sweethope, P and E Brayson, of North Shields, shared three fish for 25lb, the heaviest tipping the scales at 16lb 8oz, and J Little and I McGeorge, of Newcastle shared a bag of 10 for 35lb 8oz. S Brown had two for 15lb 8oz, including one of 12lb.